VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH-FACTOR PRODUCTION IS STIMULATED BY GANGLIOSIDES AND TGF-BETA ISOFORMS IN HUMAN GLIOMA-CELLS IN-VITRO

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an angiogenic factor whic h is known to be expressed in several malignancies including glioma. T he effect of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) isoforms as we ll as gangliosides on VEGF production was investigated in human glioma cell lines. TGF-beta isoforms and gangliosides were found to differen tially stimulate VEGF production by these cells. The ganglioside GD3 e nhanced this release to the greatest extent and the stimulation was mo re marked in a glioblastoma cell line than in the two other anaplastic astrocytoma cell lines. These results suggest that both TGF-beta s an d gangliosides may act as indirect angiogenic factors by stimulating V EGF secretion.